Llano County authorities stop fraud scheme, arrest suspect
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A fraud scheme targeting a Llano County resident was stopped on April 8 through a coordinated investigation by the Llano County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
Investigators arrested Dhyey Rakeshkumar Patel in connection with the case. He faces charges of money laundering greater than $300,000, a second-degree felony, and money laundering between $2,500 and $30,000, a state jail felony.
Authorities say Patel posed as a federal agent and initially defrauded the victim of approximately $25,000 in cryptocurrency. He then allegedly escalated the scheme by directing the victim to purchase about $335,000 in gold, which was to be picked up by a courier at the victim’s residence.
Law enforcement, using coordinated surveillance and investigative efforts, intercepted Patel before he arrived to collect the gold and took him into custody.
Investigators believe Patel may have been involved in similar transactions prior to this case.
The Llano County Sheriff’s Office is reminding the public that scammers often impersonate government officials and may request payment through cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other high-value assets such as gold, and urges residents to verify requests and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.